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Featured Application: A number of negative consequences, including reduced soil fertility, increased desertification, diminished agricultural productivity, and heightened air pollution, have been caused by soil erosion and dust deposition in the Al-Baha region; therefore, the methodologies and outcomes of this study provide practical guidance for measuring these effects on soil properties. This study emphasizes the development of sustainable management techniques that mitigate these adverse impacts, ensure compliance with international environmental standards, and support long-term ecological balance and agricultural sustainability. The results could be used to help land managers and policymakers develop efficient soil conservation measures in areas susceptible to wind erosion. Soil loss due to wind erosion and dust deposition has become a growing concern, particularly in arid regions like Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess soil loss and dust deposition using three different dust collection methods across 20 sites during the summer of 2022. The methods include Big Spring Number Eight (BSNE), which measures airborne dust particles using passive samplers; Surface Dust Collector (SDC), designed to collect dust settling on the ground surface; and Marble Dust Collector (MDCO), which utilizes marble-coated surfaces to trap and measure dust deposition. These methods collectively provide a comprehensive evaluation of dust dynamics in the study area. The objective was to evaluate the effects of wind erosion and dust deposition on soil properties, offering insights into the mechanisms of soil loss in arid environments. The study revealed significant variations in soil characteristics, including low organic matter content (<1%), high calcite (up to 19.62%), and increased salinity levels, with notable quantities of Cl− (211.58 meq kg⁻1) and Na⁺ (165.98 meq kg⁻1). July showed the highest dust deposition (0.0133 ton ha−1), particularly at site S11, while soil loss was lowest at site S5. This research offers novel insights into the nonlinear relationship between soil loss and time, contributing to sustainable soil management strategies. By aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the findings underscore the need to mitigate soil loss to enhance environmental sustainability, prevent desertification, and promote long-term resilience in arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil erosion is expected to worsen in the future as a result of climate change, growing population demands, improper land use, and excessive exploitation of natural resources in India. Due to the growing population and changes in land use, it has become increasingly crucial to map and quantitatively assess soil for the purpose of sustainable agricultural usage and planning conservation efforts. The problem of soil erosion is mainly on steeper slopes with intense rainfall in parts of Western Ghats. The 20.17% of geographical area have been converted into wasteland due to soil erosion. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is a highly prevalent and effective technique utilized for estimating soil loss in order to facilitate the planning of erosion control measures. Despite the fact that RUSLE is accurately estimate sediment yields from gully erosion, it is an effective tool in estimating sheet and rill erosions losses from diverse land uses like agricultural to construction sites. The current study is mainly about combining the RUSLE model with GIS (Geographic Information System) to find out how much soil is being lost, particularly in Noyyal and Sanganur watersheds which is located in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India. This analysis is based on the soil order, with a significant proportion of alfisols and inceptisols being considered. The obtained outcome is contrasted with the established soil loss tolerance threshold, leading to the identification of the areas with the highest susceptibility to erosion. Within the narrower and more inclined section of the watershed, yearly soil loss scales from 0 to 5455 tonnes/ha/year, with an average annual loss of soil of 2.44 tonnes/ha. The severe soil erosion of 100 to 5455 tonnes/ha/year is found along the steep and greater slope length. The generated soil map was classified into six categories: very slight, slight, moderate, high, severe, and very severe. These classifications, respectively, occupied 6.23%, 14.88%, 10.56%, 15.70%, 7.73%, and 6.63% of the basin area. Based on the results of cross-validation, the estimated result of the present study was found to be very high compared to past studies conducted 0 to 368.12 tonnes/ha/year especially in very severe erosion zones. But very slight to severe erosion zones nearly matched with same level of soil loss. To protect the soil in the study area from erosion, more specific actions should be taken. These include micro-catchment, broad bed furrows, up-and-down farming, soil amendment with coconut coir pith composition, streambank stabilization with vegetation, and micro-water harvesting with abandoned well recharge. These actions should be carried out over time to make sure to work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Studies focusing on the degradation of arable land are particularly numerous, given the scale of the threat posed to soil worldwide, particularly in the context of global climate change and socio-economic transformations. This fact has motivated the scientific community to visualize various research projects aimed at improving the application of empirical models to provide new answers to the problem of water erosion. The use of adjustment parameters was of crucial importance in adapting the model terms to local conditions in the study area. To develop a detailed understanding of the performance of empirical models in quantifying soil losses, a test was carried out on the scale of the Wadi Chaâf basin in the Assir region using two empirical models. The choice was made to adopt the Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE), because it uses peak flow as an input parameter. This is in recognition of the fact that the study area has all too often been subject to the concentration of run-off water due to steep slopes and the capricious rainfall. For its part, the EPM formula is applied owing to its formula design, which allows for the consideration of thermal contrasts linked to altitude and the different exposure of the slopes. The specific losses recorded ranged between 38 t ha-1 year-1 and 24 t ha-1 year-1 respectively for the MUSLE and EPM models, with some areas exceeding the tolerance threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential changes in land cover and their impacts on rainwater harvesting systems, with a focus on Egypt's northwestern coastal region. To accomplish this objective, we utilized the kinematic runoff and erosion model (KINEROS2) to estimate the effects of projected land use changes on runoff and sediment load. The results demonstrated satisfactory performance of the model, with average Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency values of 0.75 for calibration and 0.77 for validation, indicating successful simulations. The analysis revealed that land use changes had minimal impact in the base scenario (S1), resulting in moderate fluctuations in estimated sediment load. Conversely, the supplementary scenarios (S2 and S3) exhibited more pronounced alterations in land use, resulting in significant deviations in model estimations, notably indicating a substantial reduction in soil erosion. The integration of land use change analysis with KINEROS2 modeling emphasizes the potential for implementing effective management strategies.

Abstract Ethiopia faces a significant challenge in combating soil erosion. This study addresses the concern within Ada’a watershed of the Awash River basin. GIS and the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) Model were used to predict soil loss and the sediment transport index (STI) in the Ada’a watershed of the Awash River basin. RUSLE model required intensive rainfall data registered continuously for 30 min, due to unavailability of this Rainfall data USLE model were preferred. Moreover, USLE model was chosen because of its straightforward methodology and accessibility to data. The study's objectives were to determine the mean annual soil loss rate, STI, and to identify and rank the most important erosion-prone spots for soil conservation planning. Using the interactive Spatial Analyst Tool Map Algebra Raster Calculator in the ArcGIS environment, the mean annual soil loss was estimated based on grid cells by multiplying the corresponding USLE factor values (R, K, LS, C, and P). The STI was also calculated on the Raster Calculator in ArcGIS using flow accumulation and slope gradients. The result shows that R, K, LS, C, and P factor values were estimated in the watershed as 344.9 to 879.65 MJ mm h−1 year−1, 0.11 to 0.38, 0% to 22.23%, 0 to 1, and 0.55 to 1, respectively. The overall annual soil loss in the watershed ranged from 0 to 457.4 tons ha−1 year−1. The Sediment Transport Index ranges from 0 to 856.193. The result implies there is increasing rate of soil losses and sediments observed at alarming rate. The highest rate of soil loss was found in the watershed’s lowest parts. Accordingly, sustainable erosion control mechanisms based on topography and land use types are highly recommended, especially in the upper part of the watershed.

Soil loss due to wind erosion and dust deposition has become a growing concern, particularly in arid regions like Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess soil loss and dust deposition using three different dust collection methods across 20 sites during the summer of 2022. The methods include Big Spring Number Eight (BSNE), which measures airborne dust particles using passive samplers; Surface Dust Collector (SDC), designed to collect dust settling on the ground surface; and Marble Dust Collector (MDCO), which utilizes marble-coated surfaces to trap and measure dust deposition. These methods collectively provide a comprehensive evaluation of dust dynamics in the study area. The objective was to evaluate the effects of wind erosion and dust deposition on soil properties, offering insights into the mechanisms of soil loss in arid environments. The study revealed significant variations in soil characteristics, including low organic matter content (− (211.58 meq kg⁻1) and Na⁺ (165.98 meq kg⁻1). July showed the highest dust deposition (0.0133 ton ha−1), particularly at site S11, while soil loss was lowest at site S5. This research offers novel insights into the nonlinear relationship between soil loss and time, contributing to sustainable soil management strategies. By aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the findings underscore the need to mitigate soil loss to enhance environmental sustainability, prevent desertification, and promote long-term resilience in arid regions.

Ethiopia faces a significant challenge in combating soil erosion. This study addresses the concern within Ada'a watershed of the Awash River basin. GIS and the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) Model were used to predict soil loss and the sediment transport index (STI) in the Ada'a watershed of the Awash River basin. RUSLE model required intensive rainfall data registered continuously for 30 min, due to unavailability of this Rainfall data USLE model were preferred. Moreover, USLE model was chosen because of its straightforward methodology and accessibility to data. The study's objectives were to determine the mean annual soil loss rate, STI, and to identify and rank the most important erosion-prone spots for soil conservation planning. Using the interactive Spatial Analyst Tool Map Algebra Raster Calculator in the ArcGIS environment, the mean annual soil loss was estimated based on grid cells by multiplying the corresponding USLE factor values (R, K, LS, C, and P). The STI was also calculated on the Raster Calculator in ArcGIS using flow accumulation and slope gradients. The result shows that R, K, LS, C, and P factor values were estimated in the watershed as 344.9 to 879.65 MJ mm h−1 year−1, 0.11 to 0.38, 0% to 22.23%, 0 to 1, and 0.55 to 1, respectively. The overall annual soil loss in the watershed ranged from 0 to 457.4 tons ha−1 year−1. The Sediment Transport Index ranges from 0 to 856.193. The result implies there is increasing rate of soil losses and sediments observed at alarming rate. The highest rate of soil loss was found in the watershed's lowest parts. Accordingly, sustainable erosion control mechanisms based on topography and land use types are highly recommended, especially in the upper part of the watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prioritization of preventing soil loss in Türkiye's watersheds has become a pressing concern for planners. Numerous mathematical models are presently utilized on a global scale for soil erosion prediction. One such model is the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), commonly used to estimate average soil loss. Recently, there has been an increased emphasis on utilizing USLE/RUSLE in conjunction with Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, enabling grid-based analysis for predicting soil erosion and facilitating control measures. This study evaluates the effectiveness of erosion and flood control initiatives started in the 1970s within the Emine Creek watershed and its tributary rivers in Osmancık, Türkiye, utilizing RUSLE/GIS technologies. Two distinct maps illustrating the potential erosion risks were produced for two distinct temporal intervals, and a comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the alterations that transpired. The implementation of various measures such as terracing, afforestation, and rehabilitation in the watershed led to a notable prediction of decreasing soil loss in the watershed. From 1970 to 2020, the rate of estimated soil loss was reduced from 417 to 256 metric tons per hectare per year, demonstrating the effectiveness of soil conservation measures in a semi-arid and weakly vegetated area at reducing potential soil loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cantareira System is one of the largest water supply systems in the world, supplying about half of the water consumed by 22 million inhabitants in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil. In this scenario, in view of climate change, silting is a serious environmental threat and a major challenge to the sustainability of water reservoirs. Therefore, identifying the provenance of sediments is an essential tool to support soil conservation policies, slowing erosion processes and mitigating the deposition of sediments in water reservoirs. Thus, this study aimed to model soil losses—sediment production, by water erosion in the Cantareira System, based on the RUSLE model—Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, GIS—Geographic Information System and SR—Remote Sensing. The work was conducted on data obtained from online platforms of Brazilian public institutions. The results indicate an average rate of soil loss of 13 Mg ha−1 yr−1, which corresponds to an annual loss of 3 million tons, of which 22% reaches water bodies. The data also show that: (1) in 66 % of the Cantareira System, soil losses are below the soil loss tolerance limits, and, in 34% of the region, water erosion is compromising the sustainability of water and soil resources; (2) the areas with the greatest soil losses are predominantly located in planted forests, agricultural crops and non-vegetated areas; and (3) sectors with high rates of soil loss require the adoption of conservationist practices aimed at reducing sediment production rates and thereby increasing supply and improving water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil loss rate, suspended load, and suspended sediment discharge were simulated for the drainage basin of the Komarovka R., located at the territory of the former Primorskaya Water Balance, Russian Far East. The study was based on an open-code SWAT model. The model was calibrated and verified using archive measurement data on sediment load and suspended sediment discharge at PWBS by data of Tsentral'nyi hydrological gage (157 km2). The simulation efficiency of the suspended load and suspended sediment discharge corresponds to categories satisfactory and higher. On the average for the drainage basin, the rate of soil washout is 11–12 t/ha per year. The washout rate is maximal in the period of active snow melting. The mean monthly value for April–May is 75 thous. t. The mean annual washout is 171 thous. t, and the maximal is 800 thous. t/year. The mean annual runoff of suspended sediments in the outlet section of the drainage basin is 2.6 thous. t. The highest monthly values of sediment runoff correspond to the period of summer floods in August, when with average of 1 thous. and maximum of 7.7 thous. t. The obtained data on the heterogeneity of the spatial distribution of the simulated values of washout rate are in good agreement with the landscape and climatic features of runoff formation in the drainage river basin. The major errors in the estimation of sediment load are due to the simulation quality of the hydrological regime and dynamics of runoff components that form flood hydrographs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water erosion is the principal degradation process of tropical soils, and its effects can be measured by modeling techniques. Erosion models provide a diagnosis of the soil loss intensity and can support the planning of soil conservation practices. Models with low data requirements, such as the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and, more recently, the Erosion Potential Method (EPM), are mainly applied in Brazil. Thus, the objective of this work was to estimate water erosion soil-loss rates using the EPM and RUSLE models on a tropical subbasin, followed by a comparison of their outcomes. The models’ application considered soil physical parameters, edaphoclimatic conditions of the area, land use, and subbasin management practices. The accuracy of the methods was verified using total transported sediment and water discharge data. We compared the models using Pearson's correlation analyses, considering a 5% of significance. We found a predominance of moderate-intensity erosion with average soil loss of 1.17 and 1.46 Mg ha-1 year-1, measured by EPM and RUSLE, respectively. The EPM model underestimated soil losses by 15.27%, and RUSLE overestimated by 19.08%, indicating a higher percentage of areas with high erosion rates (4.60%). The models presented results with a different order of magnitude, but with significant correlations, indicating that both methods pointed out similar zones of intense and light-erosion rates.

The purpose of this study is to estimate soil losses and the sediment yield using SATEEC (Sediment Assessment Tool for Effective Erosion Control). The SATEEC model uses USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation) to estimate soil loss, the nLS model for gully head detection, and the USPED model to establish soil erosion and deposition. Therefore, the USLE model shows that classes with very low values of soil loss (0.36 tons/ha/year) are prevalent throughout 83.71% of the surface. The gully head detection, using the nLS model, showed that a gully with lengths under 9.21 m, are the most recurrent on 98.76% of the studied area. The USPED model indicated that soil erosion is present on 9.63% of the studied area, while deposition is found on 0.65% of the analysed territory. Through the SATEEC erosion modules we found very low values (<7.44 tons/ha/year) of sheet, rill, and gully erosion on 98.63% of the surface of the southern slope of the Lipovei Hills, due to the low slopes on the interfluves and from the plain units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Colombia, almost half of the soils are prone to erosion, where Valle del Cauca is one of the most affected departments by its severity. In order to identify the susceptibility to erosion risks in terms of the rainfall erosivity and the incidence of the topographic factor in the main pineapple producing municipalities of the department, a study was carried out that considered the historical climatological information of more than 50 years, for which all available weather stations in the area were selected. The erosivity index (R - EI30), the modified Fournier index (MFI), and the topographic factor (LS) were estimated. The results indicate that the average MFI values ranged between (91.31 and 582.79) which correspond to the moderate, high and very high categories, the results of R-EI30 presented moderate, high, very high and extremely severe values (5076.91 MJ.mm.ha-1 - 22718.83 MJ.mm.ha-1), while the highest values of the topographic factor (with slopes up to 81°) coincide with the upper part of the river basin Dagua, predominantly in the municipality of Dagua. These values indicate that the soils in the area are susceptible to erosion risks depending on the rainfall erosivity and the topographic factor at a moderate, high and very high level, which can generate significant soil losses, and therefore they should be considered when establishing a pineapple crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water erosion is a major cause of soil degradation worldwide. This natural phenomenon has been continually accelerated by anthropogenic activities, with constants increase of soil losses. The main objective of this study was to apply the Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE) model to estimate soil loss in rainy events during one year period. The total study was conducted between August 2017 and July 2019 in coffee growing areas located in the Serra da Mantiqueira, Southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Most of the factors used for the MUSLE equation were determined from Geographic Information Systems. The results showed that soil losses ranged from 53.40 to 28.37 Mg in both areas depending on the land use and 33.12 and 23.82 Mg related to the soil classes. The largest soil losses were estimated to exposed soils in eucalyptus without conservationist practices, in the highest slopes and in Haplic Cambisol (CX). It was concluded that the conservation management practices correlated to anthropic activities adopted in the coffee crop contributed to the reduction of soil losses and maintenance of edaphic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulching is fastest strategy to control sand dune movement in arid and semiarid areas. In the present study the effect of micro silica- cement mixture was evaluated as mulch. For this purpose, an experiment was carried out as a factorial arrangement and a completely randomized design with 3 replicates. Three studied factors included 6 micro silica rates (0 as control, 0.5, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 12.5 percent), 2 rates of mulch thickness (one and two mm layers) and 2 time series (7 and 60 days). Prepared mulches based on different mixtures of micro silica + sand (400 g) and cement were sprayed on sand trays. Then 4 parameters including shear strength, penetration resistance, threshold friction velocity and soil losses at a wind speed of 15 ms−1 were measured on the studied treatments. Results obtained from the analysis of variances revealed that the effect of micro silica rates, thickness of mulch and time on the studied properties were significant. Mean comparisons also showed that shear strength, penetration resistance and threshold friction velocity increased and soil losses of treatments significantly decreased when the micro silica rates increased. The addition of micro silica to sand- cement mixture increased shear strength and penetration resistance by 76% and 82.5% respectively and decreased soil losses by 100%. The erodibility and mechanical properties of the treatments improved by increasing the thickness of the mulch. Moreover, in all studied treatments more improvements occurred in the mentioned properties of mulches during time. The application 7.5% of micro silica after 60 days was the optimal mulch to improve the soil erodibility and to increase the mechanical resistance against wind erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: to establish the influence of the watershed form on the intensity of snowmelt water runoff and the bulk of eroded soil on the chernozems of Rostov region. Tasks: to analyze long-term (1970–2020) studies of surface runoff bulks, including various types (forms) of watersheds, from compacted and loose arable land; to establish patterns and to obtain the dependence of the bulk of washed soil on the runoff coefficient and the watershed form. Research methods are generally accepted; runoff sites were used on the slopes of Bolshoi Log in Aksai district Rostov region. The indicators of the erosion intensity which make it possible to judge the quantitative loss of soil volumes and bulk depending on the type of watershed, the volume of precipitation, the melt water runoff and other factors were studied. Results. It was found that the amount of soil washed off during melt water runoff varies within wide range, but in most cases does not exceed 3–10 t/ha. The erosion intensity most often coincides with the largest runoff layer, since in these cases it passes over the soil thawed from the surface. Soil washout is decreasing; in the period from 1970 to 1991, the average annual bulk of soil washed away from the fall plowed land was an average of 7.5 t/ha, and from winter wheat crops, 10.2 t/ha. In the next 20 years (1991–2009), soil losses from fall plows amounted to 4.6 t/ha, from winter crops – 6.8 t/ha, and in the last 10 years, respectively, 5.0 and 3.1 t/ha. Soil loss on the slope of the southern exposure was 0.65 from the northern one. In the rills of the northwestern exposure, the melt water runoff was 10–20 % higher than on the slopes between the rills; soil washout along the thalweg of rills reaches 40 % or more of the total bulk of washed out soil. Conclusions. These data, in combination with the conditions for the occurrence of the phenomena under consideration, are used for a scientifically grounded choice of a system of soil protection measures for an adaptive landscape farming system and their forecasting over time.

Purpose: generalization and analysis of long-term observations for climatic indicators changes and the surface melt water runoff value and study of their effect on soil erosion using the example of Rostov region. Research objectives: to analyze global and regional climate changes in Rostov region from 1936 to 2019, to determine the patterns of the climate change impact on surface runoff and soil erosion (based on long-term field observations from 1970 to 2020). Methods: observations for surface runoff were carried out at runoff sites according to generally accepted methods; the methods of mathematical analysis and statistics were used to summarize and analyze the data obtained. Results. The analysis showed that for the period from 1936 to 2019, the average annual temperature in Rostov region increased by an average of 1.9 °С, the amount of precipitation increased by an average of 148 mm, but the unevenness of their precipitation by months increased, and only in August there is a regular decrease in precipitation at all observation points. This was reflected in the depth of soil freezing, which averaged 47.5 cm from 1970 to 1990, and from 2010 to 2020 decreased to 19 cm, i. e., almost 2.5 times. From 1970 to 1990, the water reserve in the snow before snowmelt was 53.6 mm, from 1991 to 2009 – 43.4 mm, from 2010 to 2020 – 33.5 mm, i. e., there was a decrease in comparison with the first period by 1.6 times. Conclusions. Observation for the melt water runoff for the above period showed that the runoff layer decreased from 19.0 to 4.2 mm, and the probability of its formation is 1 time in 3 years on loose arable land, and 2 times in 3 years on compacted land. In accordance with this, the value of soil washout in the period 1970–1990 amounted to 8.9 t/ha, and in the last decade, 2 times less – 4.2 t/ha. All these data should be taken into account when planning the system of soil protection measures.

ABSTRACT Vegetation cover and soil management influence the magnitude of soil losses. In the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), cover and management are represented by the C factor, as it is the easiest factor to manage to reduce loss of soil and water in agricultural areas. This study aimed to determine the C factor of a succession of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) followed by soybean (Glycine max) under conventional tillage, reduced tillage, and no-tillage. For this, data of soil losses obtained in the field, under natural rainfall conditions, in a long-term experiment that lasted for 13 years were used. The cycle of both crops was divided into five stages with different time intervals between winter and summer, which resulted in ten periods per year constituting the succession. The C factor values varied widely among the treatments and the stages during the crop cycle, and they were influenced mainly by the rainfall distribution of the region, growth of the vegetation and soil disturbance level. By the end of the 13 years of experimentation, the C factor of the wheat-soybean succession under conventional tillage was 0.1576, 0.0407 under reduced tillage, and 0.0368 under no-tillage.

The use and occupation of the soil is a preponderant factor for the attenuation or intensification of erosive processes, since areas that have an adequate soil cover present less potential to produce sediments. Thus, the present work aims to carry out an analysis of soil losses in the Rio de Janeiro Basin (Western Bahia Region) for different conditions of land use and occupation, using USLE in a GIS environment. In which it was found that the Rio de Janeiro Basin has undergone an intense change in its use and land occupation in the last 40 years, with suppression of about 54% of the area of native vegetation, which significantly influenced the increase soil losses in the basin. The western portion of the basin was more susceptible to soil losses due to the higher concentration of the dryland farming class. In contrast, the eastern region of the basin showed the lowest values of soil losses due to the predominance of native vegetation, thus showing its effectiveness in mitigating erosion processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research attempted to evaluate the soil loss-prone zones and affecting key factors in a suburb agricultural area in the western Mashhad city, northeastern Iran, using the universal soil loss equation model. All erosion factors and components were produced in GIS grid-based modeling. Therefore, the required data, such as topography, climate, and soil characteristics, were collected from global databases. The estimated annual soil loss values were classified into five classes from slight soil losses (0–3 t ha−1 year−1) at the plain lowland in the northern region to severe soil losses (25–55 t ha−1 year−1) at the hillsides and terraces in the middle part of the study area. The results revealed that about 9.36% of the study area (6743 km2) is under critical erosion-prone zones of high and severe soil losses (over 15 t ha−1 year−1). Ultimately, the relationships between soil loss-prone zones and soil taxonomy order/sub-orders were investigated to prevalence the results in the other alike geo-climatic status. Correlation analysis conveniently confirmed a very strong, significant, and direct relationship (R equal to 0.997) between high/severe soil losses and xerolls in the study area at the 95% confidence level. In the study area, the most soil loss and sedimentation were predicted for xerolls soil sub-order (mollisols) with 5.5 t ha−1 year−1 and 14.69 million t year−1 (over 60% of total sedimentations). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper management of soil organic matter is an important issue in the context of sustainable agriculture. The intensification of production and the loss of organic carbon associated with agriculture reduce the efficiency of production and the quality of the environment, especially in relation to areas exposed to erosion. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of specific tillage systems and plant cover on the organic carbon losses, as well as on runoff and soil losses, over a 6‐year study period following the introduction of no‐till. The first factor in the experiment was the tillage system: conventional tillage (CT) and no‐till (NT). The second factor was plant cover: horse bean, spring wheat and winter oilseed rape. The results showed that runoff was 4.3 ± 0.6% higher under NT than under CT, while soil loss was 66.8 ± 2.7% lower under NT than under CT. Compared to CT, NT limited the total organic carbon losses by an average of 46.0 ± 2.9% and organic carbon bound with sediment losses by 53.2 ± 0.7%, whereas for dissolved organic carbon, there were no significant differences for the tillage systems. The anti‐erosion effectiveness of NT was lower in the first year, but it increased in subsequent years after the introduction of this tillage system. Plant cover also had a significant impact on organic carbon losses and soil protection. The crops were ranked according to runoff, soil losses and organic carbon losses in the following order from lower to higher losses: winter oilseed rape > spring wheat > horse bean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust emissions have significant impacts on air quality, global climate, human health, and biogeo-chemical processes. China is a main contributor to global dust emissions, and the mineral dust from China could be transported to other countries. However, spatial patterns and temporal trends of dust emissions and its response to the changing climate over the past several decades, particularly in spring, are still poorly understood. Here we simulated the spatial and temporal dynamics of spring dust emissions in China's arid and semi-arid areas and analysed the impacts of climate variability on dust emissions during 1982-2011. The mean annual spring dust emission was around 132.98 Tg yr-1. Spring dust emissions decreased from -171.92 Tg in 1982 to -57.87 Tg in 1997, and then increased with fluctuations from 1997 to 2011. Results indicated that wind velocity and air temperature are significantly positive and negative correlated to spring dust emissions over most areas of the research region, respectively. However, the precipitation had no significant impacts on spring dust emissions across the most research region over the past three decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ambiente e Água is the property of Revista Ambiente e Agua and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In tropical regions, water erosion is the process responsible for the redistribution and the loss of soil organic matter (SOM). Modelling can provide a diagnosis of the dynamics of SOM in agricultural production systems, and assist the proposing of conservationist measures. Therefore, this work aimed to estimate SOM losses due to water erosion in an agricultural production system, through the use of modelling techniques. The study area corresponding to the Santo André Farm, located in south-eastern Brazil. The area of the farm is around 75 ha, and the main agricultural product is coffee (78%). The modelling was performed based on the SOM content of the area, and the estimated soil losses, according to the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation. To the SOM determination, soil samples were collected at 20 points, distributed over the area, in the surface layer (0-20 cm), in March 2018. The parameter acquiring and the data analysis were performed using remote sensing techniques and a Geographic Information System, which was also used to interpolate the SOM content, through the use of the ordinary kriging. The organic matter content on the farm ranged from 1.20 to 2.46%, while the average soil loss was 25.70 Mg ha-1 year-1 , with higher erosion rates in steepest sites. The estimated loss of total organic matter at 31.87 Mg year-1 , with an average of 0.42 Mg ha-1 year-1 . The observed results reveal the need to implement conservationist management measures to reduce soil losses, and the consequent SOM losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a close connection between human history and different purposes for which land is used, and various purposes can lead to the loss of productive agricultural lands. The increasing population in recent decades has particularly increased the pressure on agricultural lands. Despite the large number of land/soil misuse studies conducted during this period, land/soil loss is a continuing process. We thus seek to highlight the land/soil loss caused by the use of soil materials for the construction of tandır ovens in Diyarbakır region. The use of traditional tandır ovens is particularly widespread in eastern and northeastern rural Anatolia of Turkey, for baking bread. Because the soil material used in the production of this oven does not have any production standards, tandır oven producers extract their material from the nearest available lands that are mostly productive. Consequently, this study was conducted by collecting samples from soil materials used in the production of tandır ovens to determine their agricultural productivity. Satellite imagery from different dates was also used to detect the effects of inappropriate soil extraction. A number of interviews were conducted to obtain information on the type of soils extracted for production. Laboratory analyses of samples collected from the extracted areas revealed that soils' utilized for oven production physical and chemical properties, as well as their land characteristics (flatness, depth, and stoniness), were appropriate for crop production. Consequently, these results point to accelerated future soil degradation which will threat regions food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The selection of tree species can affect the success of afforestation in the rehabilitation of degraded forest sites and forest restoration. In general, black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold.) represent the most commonly used species in the afforestation of soils that have been degraded by erosion. As far as the extent of the ameliorative effects of black locust and black pine are concerned, it was found that they may play an important role in the selection of species for the afforestation of extremely degraded sites. This study is aimed at determining the potential of black locust and black pine to affect several soil properties, erosion control and C stock, thus creating favourable site conditions for the restoration of previous forest vegetation. This research was conducted in the Grdelica Gorge in south east Serbia, where eight sample plots with an average size of 0.47 ha were established 60 years ago on terrain afforested with black locust and black pine. In each sample plot, we measured the diameter at breast height of all black locust and black pine trees, and the height of 10 black locust and 10 black pine trees in each diameter class. In addition, samples of mineral soil (from depths of 0-5, 5-10 and 10-20 cm) were taken at 4 randomly selected soil profiles in each sample plot, and 8 samples of litter (30 × 30 cm) were also collected. Additionally, laboratory analyses of the physical and chemical properties of the soil and litter were performed in 2 replicates. The obtained results showed that: (1) at the 0-5 cm depth, there was no statistically significant difference in the reaction of the soil solution, although a significant difference in the reaction of the soil solution between the soils under the two species was observed at soil depths greater than 5 cm; (2) there was a significantly higher N content under black locust in the 0-5 cm soil layer; (3) the reduction of soil loss under black locust is statistically significant in all observation periods; (4) black pine is more efficient in C storage. Our results demonstrate that black locust has the potential to improve soil properties and reduce soil loss caused by erosion, while its favourable impact does not decrease over time, making it more suitable for afforestation on degraded land in the examined area.

Most agricultural lands in Iasi County are located on slopes with different degrees of inclination. Areas affected by erosion all over the territory are significant and from 1990 until now the situation has worsened. For all slope agricultural land it is necessary to perform land improvement works on soil erosion control. Combating erosion, improving eroded land and bringing it to a high degree of fertility requires arrangements, measures and works to be applied differently for each situation. As early as the 1960s - 1970s, measures were taken to prevent and combat this degradation process by making anti-erosion arrangements on appreciable surfaces, these consist of: agrotechnical works to combat soil erosion on agricultural land with arable land and landscaping works with vineyards and orchards, improvement of pastures. The objectives are aimed at analyzing the exploitation behavior of soil erosion control works on the slopes of the studied area for a period of 16 years and proposals on the prospects of combating soil erosion. At the same time, also the destruction of important soil protection and soil conserving works on the slopes (brooks, terraces, debris, banquets and coastal canals). Considering that at the county, surfaces with lands requiring landscaping are also significant in relation to the pace at which such arrangements have been made so far, in the perspective of this, special financial efforts are needed for their extension. Rehabilitation of anti-erosion works and the execution of new ones are imperative in the county. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Whether the release of non‐native insect species benefits or harms ecosystem services has been the subject of debate. In New Zealand, the release of new non‐native dung beetle species was intended to enhance ecosystem services but concerns were raised over possible negative effects. 2. Field cage trials used three newly released dung beetle species to investigate two concerns: that soil disturbance from dung beetle activity increases soil losses in runoff after rainfall; and that dung burial increases survival of infective parasitic nematodes on pasture. 3. Three treatments – dung + beetles, dung‐only, and controls (without dung or beetles) – were applied on each of three soil types with different permeability: sandy loam, clay loam, and compacted clay. 4. Dung beetle activity resulted in significant reductions of 49% and 81% in mean surface runoff volume, depending on simulated rainfall intensity. Amounts of sediment in the runoff did not change under an extreme rainfall simulation, but in a less extreme rainfall simulation the presence of dung beetles resulted in a 97% reduction in mean sediment amount in runoff. 5. The numbers of infective third‐stage nematode larvae recovered from foliage varied considerably between soil types and through time; however, dung beetle activity reduced overall mean nematode numbers on grass around the dung pats by 71%. 6. This study adds to global evidence that dung beetles can improve agricultural ecosystem services by providing data on services that have rarely been investigated: reduced runoff/soil losses through increased soil porosity, and reductions in parasitic nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the mountain region of Aosta Valley, NW Italy, grapevine were, in the past, traditionally grown on terraces supported by dry stone walls. Since the 1960s, terrace systems were gradually abandoned in favour of an up and down slope row orientation. Tillage and chemical weeding are common soil management techniques adopted in vineyards with high slope gradient, to maintain bare soil. Both techniques expose, to varying degrees, the soil to degradation, favouring runoff and soil losses. Although many studies have focused on the effects of soil water erosion in vineyards, there is still a gap in the evaluation of long‐term soil erosion rates in vineyards located on very steep slopes (higher than 35%). In order to evaluate long‐term soil erosion on a very steep vineyard, a study was carried out on a 44‐year‐old vineyard located at about 900 m asl. The vine rows were oriented up and down the slope, which is about 50% (29°). The inter‐row soil management of the vineyard included chemical weeding and, in the first year after plantation, the adoption of irrigation and hilling‐up/taking‐out the soil around the vines. The soil loss was determined adopting the technique of botanical benchmark. According to this methodology, the estimated total soil lost over 44 years was about 692 Mg ha−1, with average annual soil loss of 15·7 Mg ha−1 year−1, confirming that the water and management practices adopted in the vineyard, besides the high slope gradient, have played a relevant role in determining the high erosion rate. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of agro-ecological practices on soil losses, by assessing experimental field topography changes and cauliflower crop yield after an artificial extreme rainfall event. Data were collected in an innovative experimental device in which different combined agronomic strategies were tested such as hydraulic arrangement, crop rotations and agro-ecological service crops (ASC) introduction. The collection of elevation data was carried out in kinematic way before rainfall, and in punctual surveys to evaluate the effects of artificial event on this parameter. Non-parametric tests were performed to evaluate differences between samples. High-resolution digital elevation models were generated from independent data using kriging, and elevation difference maps were produced. The results indicated that the data before and after the artificial rainfall were statistically different. The raised strips suffered soil loss showing that the strip with permanent intercropping was higher than that in the absence of ASC. A significant rise of elevation was registered in the furrowed strips after rainfall, and deposition of soil occurred at the lowest areas of the experimental field. Moreover, the study showed a relationship between cash crop yield and elevation: the areas with lower elevation (higher flooding) were characterized by the lowest yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetal covers protect the soil against erosion in agricultural systems. In marginal olive farms, spontaneous grass covers are preferred due to their low cost, despite their high spatial and temporal heterogeneity which limits their efficiency. Although the impact of different managements, soil conditions or cover crops species has been evaluated and compared, there is currently insufficient information available on the spatial and temporal patterns of spontaneous grass covers in olive groves. This work focuses on the analysis of the spatial distribution patterns, temporal stability and protection capacity of spontaneous grass covers in olive orchards. First, the temporal variability of spontaneous grass cover was explored in relation to the meteorological conditions and the management system. Second, spatial analysis by distance indices (SADIE) was applied to explore the spatial patterns and persistence of the spontaneous cover. Finally, a descriptive analysis of events was made to illustrate the degree of influence of the cover on the hydrological response of the catchment. A total 12 surveys were carried out on a seasonal scale over 3 years (2011 − 2013) to measure the cover percentage of spontaneous grass through surface photograph analyses. A regular, permanent grid of 37 points (6 samples/ha) was used to define each sample-location. In order to evaluate the relations between the cover percentage and meteorological variables, multiple linear regressions were adjusted while the SADIE approach and correlation analysis were used to describe possible spatial aggregation patterns and its dependence on topographical and soil attributes such as aspect, slope, drainage area, height, richness of grass species and apparent electrical conductivity. The average annual percentage of cover ranged from 23% to 36%, with a coefficient of variation of 57% and 6%, respectively. On the seasonal scale, the cover varied between 0.2% and 50%. Accumulated precipitation during the precedent 15 days, the average of minimum temperature of the previous 60 days and the cumulated potential evapotranspiration of the same period showed a significant correlation with the mean cover percentage in the catchment. A simple multiple linear regression adjustment between the cumulated precipitation for the 15 previous days and the number of months since the vegetation was removed using herbicide or by summer conditions gave a determination coefficient of 77%. Moreover, a permanent spatial pattern was observed for periods characterized by abundant preceding rainfall. Only the apparent electrical conductivity of the topsoil (50 cm in depth) showed significant correlations with the spatial patterns of spontaneous grass. Finally, similar rainfall events taking place with different degrees of soil cover presented very different hydrological responses, which allowed us to quantify the contribution of spontaneous vegetation to sediment dynamics during humid periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water erosion is the major cause of soil and water losses and the main factor of degradation of agricultural areas. The objective of this work was to quantify pluvial water erosion from an untilled soil with crop rows along the contour, in 2009 and 2010, on a Humic Dystrupept, with the following treatments: a) maize monoculture; b) soybean monoculture; c) common bean monoculture; d) intercropped maize and bean, exposed to four simulated rainfall tests of on hour at controlled intensity (64 mm h-1). The first test was applied 18 days after sowing and the others; 39, 75 and 120 days after the first test. The crop type influenced soil loss through water erosion in the simulated rainfall tests 3 and 4; soybean was most effective in erosion control in test 3, however, in test 4, maize was more effective. Water loss was influenced by the crop type in test 3 only, where maize and soybean were equally effective, with less runoff than from the other crops. The soil loss rate varied during the runoff sampling period in different ways, demonstrating a positive linear relationship between soil and water loss, in the different rainfall tests.A erosão hídrica é a principal causa das perdas de solo e água, assim como de degradação das áreas agrícolas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar a erosão hídrica pluvial em uma área sem preparo prévio do solo, cultivada em contorno, em 2009 e 2010, sobre um Cambissolo Húmico, com os seguintes tratamentos: milho solteiro, soja solteira, feijão solteiro e milho e feijão consorciados, submetidos a quatro testes de chuva simulada com intensidade constante de 64 mm h-1 e duração de 1 h. O primeiro teste foi aplicado 18 dias após a semeadura das culturas e, os demais, 39, 75 e 120 dias, após o primeiro. O tipo de cultura influenciou a erosão hídrica nos testes 3 e 4 de chuva simulada; a soja foi mais eficaz no teste 3, enquanto, no teste 4, o milho foi mais eficiente no controle da erosão. As perdas de água foram influenciadas pelo tipo de cultura apenas no teste 3, onde o milho e a soja demonstraram a mesma eficiência, com menores valores de enxurrada do que as demais culturas. A taxa de perda de solo variou de distintas formas ao longo do período de amostragem da enxurrada, demonstrando relação linear positiva entre as perdas de solo e as de água, nos vários testes de chuva simulada.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as perdas de solo provenientes de trechos de estradas de uso florestal inseridas na região de Itaiópolis, Santa Catarina, que apresenta relevo ondulado a fortemente ondulado em dois tipos de solo: Cambissolo Húmico Distrófico típico e Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo Distrófico típico. A erosividade da chuva foi calculada através de pluviogramas e de dados de pluviosidade da empresa Rigesa - Soluções em Embalagens MeadWestvaco; a erosividade do solo foi calculada em função dos resultados de análises, a declividade e comprimento de rampa foram medidos em campo e os fatores C e P, estipulados através da literatura. A hipótese de similaridade entre os valores reais monitorados pelo período de um ano e os valores estimados pela RUSLE foi evidenciada através de análise estatística, que apresentou alta correlação nos tratamentos avaliados e se manteve dentro do limite crítico proposto pela análise, validando, portanto, essa hipótese.The objective of this work was to evaluate the soil losses from a portion of forest roads located in a region with undulated to heavily undulated relief in two types of soil: Humic Cambissoil, typical Dystrophic and Red-Yellow Argissoil, typical Dystrophic. The rainfall erosivity was calculated using rainfall data through the Rigesa Company, the soil erodibility was calculated based on the results of the analyses, the declivity and the slope length were measured in the field, and Factors C and P were estimated from literature. The similarity hypothesis between the real values monitored over a one year period and the estimated values using the RUSLE were evidenced via statistical analyses that presented high correlations in the evaluated treatments, remaining inside the critical limit considered for the analyses, therefore validating the hypothesis.

En el presente trabajo se cuantificaron las pérdidas de suelo por erosión fluvial (2006-2008) en dos cauces ribereños con cobertura de Haematoxylum campechianum, Dalbergia brownei y Brachiaria mutica en la Reserva de la Biosfera Pantanos de Centla, SE de México. Se evaluó la relación entre la textura, materia orgánica y pH de los suelos con la pérdida de los mismos. Las pérdidas de suelo se estimaron en 18 parcelas con varillas de erosión. La principal tendencia de las pérdidas de suelo por tipo de cobertura vegetal se dio en el orden H. campechianum>B. mutica>D. brownei. El mayor impacto erosivo en sitios con H. campechianum se relacionó con la textura arenosa de los suelos y el grado de perturbación de los sitios (baja densidad de árboles, alta dispersión y falta de asociación con otros tipos de vegetación). Las pérdidas totales de suelo en parcelas con B. mutica al segundo año de estudio pueden relacionarse con la distribución superficial de las raíces de este pasto y con la actividad ganadera. Con este estudio se reconoce la importancia de los matorrales de D. brownei en la retención de suelos ribereños, sin embargo hay que considerar que la sola influencia de un tipo de cobertura vegetal puede no ser tan significativa como el papel de una comunidad vegetal, en la que su composición y densidad, así como su diversificación en morfología tenga un papel importante en la conservación de los suelos.Influence of three types of riparian vegetation on fluvial erosion control in Pantanos de Centla, Mexico. Wetlands constitute very important ecological areas. The aim of this study was to quantify the soil losses due to fluvial erosion from 2006 to 2008 in two riverbanks under three types of vegetal coverage dominated by Haematoxylum campechianum, Dalbergia brownei and Brachiaria mutica, in the Pantanos de Centla Biosphere Reserve, SE Mexico. The relationship between the texture, organic matter and pH of soils and soil losses was evaluated. We used erosion sticks to estimate soil losses in 18 plots (three plots per type, three vegetation types, two riverbanks). Soil loss decreased in this order: H. campechianum>B. mutica>D. brownie indicating that D. brownei scrubland has the most potential to retain soil. The higher erosive impact within H. campechianum sites can be related with the low density of these trees in the study areas, as we ll as the lack of association with other types of vegetation that could reinforce the rooting of the soil profile. Furthermore, soil losses in H. campechianum sites were dependent on soil texture. The soils under this type of vegetal coverage were mainly sandy, which are more vulnerable to the erosive action in comparison with fine textured soils or soils with higher clay content, like the ones found in D. brownei and B. mutica sites. Soil losses of 100 % in the second year ( B. mutica plots) can be attributed to the distribution of roots in the upper soil layer and also to livestock management along riverbanks. This study recognizes the importance of D. brownei scrublands in riverbank soil retention. Nevertheless it is necessary to consider the role of an entire vegetal community in future research. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (4): 1153-1163. Epub 2009 December 01.

Universal Soil Loss Equation USLE-based erosion models have been used extensively to complement erosion measurements, to understand the interactions of the different geophysical features into erosion processes and to assess adequate alternative management practices and scenarios analyses. Despite its proved usefulness on different land-uses around the world, there is an urgent need to set up simple tools which do not require an advanced management expertise in terms of both choose of model parameters and calculation ability and which are accurate particularly at the event scale. In this paper the suitability of the Modified USLE (USLE-M) model at the event and the annual scale were evaluated in an olive orchard catchment of 6.1 ha in Spain where a rainfall-runoff-sediment yield dataseries of over 8 years (2005–2013) was available. The model was applied dividing the catchment into morphological units, i.e. areas having a defined aspect, length and steepness. In addition, different model parameterizations of both the crop factor of the Revised USLE factor and β-coefficient of the sediment delivery ratio of each morphological unit were studied in order to describe the seasonal variability of soil conditions along the year. At event scale the best performance of the USLE-M model was obtained using a single value of the β coefficient equal to median value β e,m without considering the seasonal variability of crop factor since it is well-represented by the term rainfall-runoff erosivity index. At the annual scale, the calculation of crop factor values provided a good model performance in estimating sediment yield, with a coefficient of efficiency of 0.96. The analysis demonstrated that the USLE-M model was a useful tool to simulate soil losses at the event and annual scales and its application might provide guidelines for other users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different land use systems on soil erosion rates, sur- face evolution processes and physico-chemical properties on a moraine hilly topography in Lithuania. The soil of the experimental site is Bathihypogleyi – Eutric Albeluvisols (ABe–gld–w) whose texture is a sandy loam. After a 27-year use of different land conservation systems, three critical slope segments (slightly eroded, active erosion and accumula- tion) were formed. Soil physical properties of the soil texture and particle sizes distribution were examined. Chemical properties analysed for were soil pH, available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), soil organic carbon (SOC) and to- tal nitrogen (N). We estimated the variation in thickness of the soil Ap horizon and soil physico-chemical properties prone to a sustained erosion process. During the study period (2010–2012) water erosion occurred under the grain– grass and grass–grain crop rotations, at rates of 1.38 and 0.11 m3ha–1 yr−1, respectively. Soil exhumed due to erosion from elevated positions accumulated in the slope bottom. As a result, topographic transfiguration of hills and changes in soil properties occurred. However, the accumulation segments of slopes had significantly higher silt/clay ratios and SOC content. In the active erosion segments a lighter soil texture and lower soil pH were recorded. Only long-term grassland completely stopped soil erosion effects; therefore geomorphologic change and degradation of hills was esti- mated there as minimal. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Sistemas inadequados de manejo do solo favorecem a erosão hídrica, perdas de nutrientes e poluição das águas superficiais, acelerando a degradação ambiental. As perdas de P e K por erosão hídrica foram avaliadas entre 1999 e 2001, em um Cambissolo Húmico alumínico léptico com 0,102 m m-1 de declividade, em Lages (SC), sob condições de chuva natural, em diferentes sistemas de manejo do solo. Os tratamentos de preparo do solo foram: semeadura direta em seis anos (SDI6), semeadura direta em nove anos (SDI9), escarificação + gradagem em nove anos (E + G9) e aração + duas gradagens em nove anos (A + 2G9), cada um com duas parcelas experimentais, sendo uma parcela submetida à rotação das culturas de feijão, ervilhaca, milho e aveia e a outra, à sucessão de soja, trigo, soja e trigo, além de um tratamento-testemunha, constituído por aração + duas gradagens sem cultivo, em nove anos (SSC9). O P e o K foram determinados tanto na água quanto nos sedimentos da enxurrada. As concentrações dos dois elementos foram maiores nos sedimentos do que na água da enxurrada. Tanto na água quanto nos sedimentos da enxurrada, os preparos de solo conservacionistas proporcionaram maiores concentrações de P e K do que os preparos de solo convencionais. As perdas totais de K foram maiores na água do que nos sedimentos da enxurrada, com exceção do manejo SSC9. Com relação às perdas de P, apenas nos manejos SDI6 e SDI9 elas foram maiores na água do que nos sedimentos. No caso da água da enxurrada, as perdas totais de P foram maiores nos manejos SDI6 e SDI9, enquanto as de K variaram com os preparos conservacionistas e convencionais, sem apresentarem tendência clara. No caso do sedimento da enxurrada, as perdas totais de K foram menores nos preparos conservacionistas, mas as de P foram menores apenas nos manejos SDI6 e SDI9.Inadequate soil management systems can lead to water erosion, nutrient losses and superficial water pollution, accelerating environmental degradation. The P and K losses caused by water erosion were evaluated from November 1999 to October 2001 in an Inceptisol with 0.102 m m-1 slope, in Lages, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, under natural rainfall conditions. The evaluated soil management systems were: no-tillage for six years (NT6), no-tillage for nine years (NT9), chiseling plus one disking for nine years (C + D9), and plowing plus disking twice for nine years (P + D9). All of these treatments were carried out in duplicate. One experimental plot was cultivated with bean, vetch, corn, and oat in rotation, and the other with soybean, wheat, soybean, and wheat in succession. An additional treatment consisted of bare soil (control), which was periodically tilled with plowing plus disking twice for nine years (BS9). The P and K contents were determined in runoff water and sediments. Both P and K concentrations were higher in runoff water and sediments under the conservation soil tillage than under conventional soil tillage. Total K losses were higher in the runoff water than in the sediment, except in the BS9 treatment. Regarding P losses, they were higher in water than sediment only in the NT6 and NT9 tillage. In the runoff water, the total P losses were higher in NT6 and NT9 tillage, while the K losses varied with conservational tillage and conventional tillage, with no clear trend. Potassium losses in the runoff sediment were smaller in conservational tillage, but those of P were only smaller in NT6 and NT9 treatments.

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of agro-ecological practices on soil losses, by assessing experimental field topography changes and cauliflower crop yield after an artificial extreme rainfall event. Data were collected in an innovative experimental device in which different combined agronomic strategies were tested such as hydraulic arrangement, crop rotations and agro-ecological service crops (ASC) introduction. The collection of elevation data was carried out in kinematic way before rainfall, and in punctual surveys to evaluate the effects of artificial event on this parameter. Non-parametric tests were performed to evaluate differences between samples. High-resolution digital elevation models were generated from independent data using kriging, and elevation difference maps were produced. The results indicated that the data before and after the artificial rainfall were statistically different. The raised strips suffered soil loss showing that the strip with permanent intercropping was higher than that in the absence of ASC. A significant rise of elevation was registered in the furrowed strips after rainfall, and deposition of soil occurred at the lowest areas of the experimental field. Moreover, the study showed a relationship between cash crop yield and elevation: the areas with lower elevation (higher flooding) were characterized by the lowest yield.

Paper are shown research results of ecology and economic effectiveness of V-Blade tillage application for decreasing of water surface runoff and soil losses of Chernozems on slopes. It was established, that at the eroded chernozem V-Blade tillage application leads to reducing of snowmelt and rainwater. In this case, soil losses was less in 2,2-2,0 times, compared to traditional tillage (plowing). Using of V-Blade tillage contributes to the reduction of energy losses, which accumulated in chernozem's humus compounds and reducing the cost of human labor for cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research shows the results of possible effects of climate change on runoff and soil loss in a rainfed basin located in the Alt Penedès and Anoia region (NE Spain). Viticulture is an important economic activity in this region, and vines for the production of high-quality wines and 'cavas' are the main land use. Climate data for the period 2000-2012 and detailed soil and land use maps were used as input data for soil and water assessment tool to model the effects of climate change. The analysis compared simulated results for years with different climatic conditions during that period with predicted temperature and precipitation data for 2020, 2050 and 2080 based on data obtained from the Hadley Centre Coupled Model, version 3, A2 scenario and the trends observed in the area. The research confirmed the difficulty of predicting future soil loss in this region, which has very high inter-annual climate variability. Despite only small changes in precipitation, the model simulated a decrease in soil loss associated with a decrease in runoff, mainly driven by an increase in evapotranspiration. However, the trend in soil losses may vary when changes in precipitation balance the increase in evapotranspiration and when rainfall intensity increases. An increase in maximum rainfall intensity in spring and autumn (main rainy seasons) produced significant increases in soil loss: as high as 12 % for the 2020 scenario and 57 % for the 2050 scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfall simulation experiments were carried out to quantify the effectiveness of surface compost/mulch placed on highway embankments on runoff and soil and nutrient losses. Six of eight plots received either 5 or 10 cm thick surface compost/mulch. The plots were located in two highway locations; one in an active highway construction area on US 61, and another in an established area with continual rill and sheet erosion on I-49, West Feliciana and Rapides Parishes, Louisiana, respectively. A Tlaloc 3000 rainfall simulator at an intensity of 70–80 mm h −1 was used for the runoff experiments. Two consecutive pulses of 30 min durations were applied to each plot in 2011 and 2012. The presence of the compost/mulch resulted in a reduction of runoff flow rates from a high of 1.3 mm min −1 to a low of 0.4 mm min −1 . The cumulative runoff losses as a percentage of the applied rainfall was 90% for a tilled plot (control) which was reduced to 28% in an adjacent plot having 10 cm compost/mulch. Regardless of their thickness, light tillage and incorporation of the compost/mulch reduced its effectiveness and increased runoff and soil losses. The antecedent soil moisture content during 2011 and 2012 seasons were distinctly different. Nevertheless, the presence of the compost/mulch provided similar runoff flow rates and soil losses for both years. We conclude that the presence of compost/mulch on the soil surface decreased runoff flow rate, soil and phosphate (P) losses and is recommended for highway embankment erosion control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Os métodos existentes para determinação indireta da erodibilidade não têm se mostrado adequados quando aplicados aos solos tropicais, particularmente no tocante aos latossolos brasileiros. Sendo assim, objetivou-se, com este estudo, desenvolver modelos para a estimativa da erodibilidade desse grupamento de solos, a partir de variáveis morfológicas, físicas, químicas e mineralógicas do solo. Foram feitas em 19 latossolos das várias regiões geográficas brasileiras, 129 determinações (variáveis independentes), cujos resultados foram submetidos à análise de regressão linear múltipla em "backward" utilizando o programa SAS, relacionando-se com a erodibilidade obtida diretamente no campo através de parcelas de perdas de solo (variável dependente). Foi possível desenvolver cinco modelos, com graus crescentes de complexidade e precisão para a estimativa da erodibilidade dos latossolos brasileiros, englobando 37 determinações que apresentam significância.The existent methods for indirect determination of erodibility have not been adequate when applied to tropical soils, mainly in relation to Brazilian (Oxisols). So, this study aimed to develop models for determination of erodibility of this soils group, from morphological, physical, chemical and mineralogical variables of the soil. In this way, using 19 latosols from the various Brazilian geographical regions, 129 determinations (independent variables) were made, whose results were submitted to multiple linear regression analyses in backward using the SAS program, correlating them with the erodibility directly obtained in the field through soil losses plots (dependent variable). It was possible to develop five models, with increasing degrees of complexity and precision, for the estimation of the erodibility of Brazilian latosols, involving 37 determinations that presented significance.

Die Intensität von Starkregen ist der wichtigste Faktor, der Oberflächenabfluß und Bodenabtrag auslösen kann. Langjährige Regenschreiberaufzeichnungen (15 ... 34 Jahre) 16 deutscher Wetterstationen wurden genutzt, um die 5-, 15- und 30minütige Spitzenintensität, die daraus zu berechnende Erosivität, die monatliche Verteilung und die Eintrittswahrscheinlichkeit von Starkregen (Niederschlagsmenge >/= 7,5 mm oder Intensität in 30 Minunten (I30) >/= 5 mm/h) zu berechnen. Die höchste Regenerosivität wird in Deutschland in den Sommermonten Mai bis August erreicht. Starkregen mit mehr als 1 N/h, die erosionsauslösend wirken, können mehrfach pro Jahr auftreten. Starkregen sehr hoher Erosivitäten (> 10 N/h, das entspricht etwa 0,91 mm/min und 15minütiger Andauer) sind statistisch alle 2 Jahre zu erwarten, seltener auch zweimal im Jahr. Als besonders erosiv sind kurze Perioden hoher Intensität in mittel erosiven Niederschlägen einzuschätzen, weil sie Hortonschen Oberflächenabfluß und mit ihren hohen Impulsraten hohe Sedimentablösung und -konzentrationen im Abfluß verursachen. Dies ist in Erosionsmodellen im Niederschlagstool und bei Messungen und deren Auswertung zu beachten.

The estimated of soil losses by erosion in semi-arid regions is often difficult due to the complex interaction of many factors such as climate, geology, land use, topography and human activities. RUSLE, Gravilovic and ICONA models are used to evaluate soil losses and characterize degraded areas in the K'sob watershed (1,482 km), located north eastern Algeria, in order to implement management intervention. The results show that 90 % of the basin surface is subject to low to moderate risk erosion and only 10 % is vulnerable to erosion with sediment loss estimated at 4.6 t ha year. Areas with excessive risk of gully and sheet erosion cover respectively 10 and 1 % of the basin and zones suffering the combined effects of these two processes would total more than 3 % of the basin. Finally, the sites subject to potential landslide cover just over 0.3 km. The K'sob dam's reservoir is surrounded by potentially sides degraded by sheet erosion and gully. However, larger areas degraded by these processes are located near urban areas as Rabta, Bordj Ghdir and K'sour. Spatial differences in erosion rates in the K'sob watershed are mainly caused by differences in the type of land cover and slope gradient. RUSLE, Gravilovic and ICONA models provide a useful tool for identifying soil erosion and can be successfully used for prioritization of vulnerable areas in semi-arid watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most agricultural land in the Republic of Moldova (about 80%) is located on slopes with different inclination. The purpose of this paper is appreciation soil losses for ordinary chernozems with different degrees of erosion which leads to their degradation in the reception basin "Negrea". From the data analysis concerning soil losses washed it notes that they are in close contact with degree of erosion. In this way in the eroded ordinary chernozem soil losses constituted: poorly eroded - 9.3 t/ha, at the moderately eroded - 12.8 t/ha, increasing to 22.2 t/ha in the soil with strong degree of erosion. The effect to degrading of soil erosion it is not limited only to the removal of fertile layers but also the deterioration physical, chemical, hydric and biological its properties. The indirect impact of erosion process on environmental components it refers to training in the cycle of mineral and organic compounds from outside the agricultural lands. Regarding of loss of fertile soilsoils reception basin "Nergrea" accordance with data obtained, fall within the following classes of erosion danger: absent - not eroded and typical delluvial; moderate - poorly and moderately eroded; big - strongly eroded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]